VINTAGE STERLING SILVER 925 LARGE ORTHODOX CRUCIFIX BLESSED VIRGIN MARY PSALM 68

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VINTAGE STERLING SILVER 925 LARGE ORTHODOX CRUCIFIX BLESSED VIRGIN MARY PSALM 68:
$89.00

Unique, gorgeous, massive vintage Eastern Catholic or Eastern Orthodox Crucifix pendant featuring the Most Blessed Virgin Mary with Child Jesus as \"Our Lady of Kazan\" or \"Kazanskaya\" Mother of God, the Orthodox prayer based on Psalm 68 of David the King, and a solid ornate necklace loop. Gently used, \"mint\" vintage condition. Sterling silver (the \"925\" hallmark on the necklace loop) body pectoral crucifix. Origin likely c. mid- to late 20th century. Authentic vintage masterpiece of the Orthodox Christianity from Europe. The pendant is 100% sound, robust, and wearable.
The ends of the crossbars are made in the shapes of little hearts, or domes resembling the domes of a Byzantine church.
The crucifix is two-sided.The obverse bears a 3D image of the Savior, Jesus Christ\'s body crucified onthe Byzantine-like Suppedaneum cross. The Byzantine three-bar cross is used in the Eastern Orthodox and some Eastern Catholic churches. Such a cross has three horizontal crossbeams: the top one represents the \"INRI\" nameplate, and the bottom one, a footrest.
The top part of the vertical crossbar bears atwo-letter, abbreviated inscription meaning\"KING OF GLORY\" used in the Eastern Orthodox pectoral crosses as the top nameplate. In addition, the left and right ends of the horizontal crossbar bearthe Sacred Name of Jesus Christ inscribed as the \"IC XC\" Greek Christogram.
A symbolic image of the skull, or Adam\'s head, below the image of the Suppedaneum cross refers to Golgotha (Calvary), the elevated site where Jesus was crucified, which the Bible says means \"the place of the skull\" in Hebrew. An ancient tradition of Catholic and Orthodox Churches held that it was also the burial place of Adam, thus also symbolizing the ultimate victory of Christ over sin and death.
The reverse bears aniconic imageof the Most Blessed Virgin Mary with Child Jesus as depicted onthe famous Russian icon \"Our Lady of Kazan\", also known as the \"Kazanskaya Theotokos\". The icon has the highest stature within the Russian Orthodox Church, representing the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Holy Protectress of Russia. The icon is also venerated in the Catholic Church. A copy of the icon, known as the \"Fatima copy\", was housed in the Vatican and venerated by Pope Saint John Paul II for eleven years (1993-2004).
The iconic image of the Mother of God is surrounded by an abbreviated version of the Scriptural text of Psalm 68 in Church Slavonic meaning\"MAY GOD ARISE AND MAY HIS ENEMIES BE SCATTERED...\". The words of the prayer are well preserved and identifiable. This psalm-based prayer is traditionally inscribed on the reverse of the Old Believers\' Orthodox body (Baptism) cross pendants, meaning to provide protection of the faithful crossbearer against the evil spirits (God\'s enemies), and thereby is considered a version of the Exorcism prayer.
Please examine all photographs carefully and do your own research if necessary. Please note that photographs are an important part of the item\'s description. The U.S. quarter coin, decorative stone and measuring meter are not for sale, and are photographed with the item in order to provide a size reference or artistic background.Please ask all questions before making a purchase.There are no guarantees with the listing because most items are original vintage and antique objects that are quite old. All items are sold \"as is\" with no returns because of a change of mind offered. Shipping and handling is free for the continental US. International buyers, please ask me for a shipping quote prior to buying.Please note that customs regulations differ from country to country, and it is a buyer\'s responsibility to ensure that any customs fees or other duties collected by the buyer\'s country are paid and satisfied in full.